dtewi statement seems to imply he hates religion because it produces nutjobs.

Hating an entire religion, because it produces demented extremists, is not stereotyping. Back to my example, I hate Mcdonalds fries. I am not stereotyping all their food as bad, I am however criticizing the company that produces the fries(Mcdonalds). dtewi, similarly, is criticizing the producer of demented extremists(religion), he is not stereotyping all the products of religion as bad.

Wow, extremist exorcisms are crazy.

Mr. Stickball, I think you're one of the reasons so many people posting in this thread are angry about what they're seeing in that video.

you're defending abusing a teenager over his sexual preference based on what some people wrote in a book thousands of years ago, and yes, that is abuse no matter what way you slice it, even if the poor guy signed up for it.

While extremism can be the result of may isms: race, ideological, national... only religion is provided with inherently inflexible documentation to justify that extremism. You say that they're (and your) condemnations of homosexuality are justified by a very old book. That seems like a pretty good argument to toss out that book to me.

Stof,

How did these people abuse this teenager? What exactly about the video constitutes abuse?

I am sorry that my religion offends you, but I take it very seriously. You can argue that it's archaic, irrelevant, and useless, but I do not feel that way. I cannot in good faith take certain parts of the book and say 'Hey! Taking care of the poor is something I need to do!' and then throw out the part that says 'Don't be sexually immoral'. That's my opinion on my religion, and I'm entitled to it. My opinion on my religion effects no one but myself. If I am deluded, then that's my fault and no one elses.

Yet at the same time, I would like to challenge you and everyone else: Prove my religion wrong. We spend far more time and money on helping the poor, and offering services to the needy. Prove us wrong by doing right

Well, you cant proove you are right, and we cant proove unicorns dont exist either, so thats not much saying.

The argument is pretty much pointless. See: The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The Bible is an archaic book with very questionable material. I see it as the equivalent as making Harry Potter a religion.

Or the lord of the rings,NOOOO WAIT, my Dragon Ball Religion would be awesome.

Here, freaking, here msb.  Once again you prove your status as a great VGCer.

You're saying "My opinion" in efforts to stagnate the argument. Too bad we can't argue with your opinion.

How's this. Prove Harry Potter wrong.

Here's the gist of things. We have kids of tweens and a couple years older trying to tell what billions think is right that they are religious basketcases. On the other hand we have msb and I trying to tell the kids not to call us such.

This is an extrapolation of the current atmosphere in America - kids see the separation of Church and State as more reason to advance a 110% secular USA; people who have years (and I am only 20 btw but ppl always said I was older for my years) see that the SofC&S is PROTECTION OF religion FROM THE government.

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” [Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781] -- Thomas Jefferson, key framer of American democracy